Baby Einstein DVDs

Came across this newspaper article today :

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article6894458.ece

Disney is refunding money to parents in US who bought Baby Einstein DVDs with a premise to make their babies 'little Einstein' but were disappointed with the results .

What I really do not understand is why parents are so much after making their child genius and know all wizards at such a small age.

I do understand babies need a stimulating atmosphere for their better development. But with one research coming and other one rebutting its claims how much can you believe to be true and how far will you go to 'stimulate the minds' of your little ones.

Diwali post

This was Akshaj's first Diwali in Bangalore(actually mine also)...last year he was with me in my parents home...and since he takes active part in everything we do now (like if I try to clean the mandir ..he will come and sit on it) so doing diwali preparation was very exiting and challenging...

Diwali was on Saturday ...and since everyone was so occupied after running around with Akshaj it was only on Friday night I could start decorating the 'mandir'...(that too after Akki finally slept)...so I slept real late ..

But I had not even imagined in my dreams that I will be woken by sounds of crackers at 5 a.m in the morning ...I had heard that Diwali in Bangalore is celebrated in the morning times..but crackers 5 'o clock in morning and they generously continued for 3-4 hours after that ...even Akshaj woke up early and scared with so much sound ..

On the Diwali day we also make 'Devi(Godess Lakshni) '...for that we take Devi's face and attach it on tripod made by sugarcane sticks.These sugarcane sticks are held on a heavy plate(which has corners) and we keep 'kheel' and Lord Ganesha and Godesss Lakshmi silver coin .Then we decorate it further with lehanga and chunni for Devi and malas ...This work is usually done by my father-in-law...

And this is how finally the Devi's and the mandir after all the decoration...You can also see a board with red and white design below it ..normally instead of making rangoli ....You can also see a board with red and white design below it ..normally instead of making rangoli ...we use this red base called "geru" make design over it with powdered rice(rice put in water overnight and grounded next day) mixed with water.Akshaj just loved the makeover and was hoping we all vanish from that area so that he can do some hands-on on how we have done this ..

And I even made a small rangoli(first time) with color paints as I knew if I did it original way it will not last even for a minute ...And since Akshaj was super-exited with everything happening around I did it in least possible time .. And then as outside firecrackers had started ..Akshaj was busy hearing the sounds of all the bombs ..though he was very scared yet he was in balcony to hear the sounds ..so he went with dadaji for a live show outside...but in few minutes he was back crying uncontrollably ...and later when crying was over he started making so many sounds ..woof ..woof ..etc with huge face to show all of us that there were lots of noises like this happening outside ..it was a so much fun to watch him explaining what happened to make him cry so much ..

We normally do not burst any cracker on Diwali ...just bring one 'fuljhadi'(came to know its called sursurbatti here) packet ..but as this was Akshaj's first Diwali and he likes fire very much we bought all non-sound crackers like pencil,anar,fuljadhi ,chakkri..

And since we had brought them, we thought we will take Akshaj outside again....we went to terrace as nobody was bursting crackers there ..but the moment we lighted pencil again the tears started to roll off ...and to pacify for our guilt of making him cry ..we let him watch lots of songs in TV ..so that he becomes normal again...

Then we did the puja and Akshaj obviusly had to join it ...we just can't keep him away from puja area for too long anyway ..he just loves to go there ..

And this is Akshaj putting the kheel in the house ...we have to do put them in all the rooms of the house ..actually lady of the house ..who is considered as lakshmi has to do it ..but since he is the start of the house so he also did it along with me ...You can also see the 'Lakshmi paav(feet)' which we make in all the rooms and till puja...on Diwali day Godess Lakshmi is supposed to come in all the houses over these feets and supposed to fill the houses with you know what ..Lakshmi ..meaning prosperity ...

And finally some great Diwali food and our Happy Diwali over !!

Let's rock and walk (videos)

Akshaj loves to dance ...just put on some good item number and he will be swaying with the beats ..check out some of his moves..

And these are his videos from first and second day of waking ...he even started playing football on the second day of walking

Balancing with outstretched hands ...it was so much fun to watch him..

Fevicol add and rest!!

Remember the Fevicol ad when there's a small baby continuously running away and his mom in between her work picks him up and makes him sit and the baby runs away in jiffy until the fevicol box is brought in to resolve the . Oh how I wish I could have that magic fevicol !!


I need tons of it for Akshaj...not only he has become extra naughty he even has started stamping his feets on floor and hands on whatever ..he even hits sometimes...and crying comes naturally when he is stopped from doing something.


And I really do not have a clue how to make him stop ..I have tried making him understand by words...by little scolding..making serious face..but he just does not listen...


And I do understand that he is too small to comprehend things but still he is sure showing all signs of a totally stubborn child..


Doing all the mischievous things is OK ..that's what a child will do ..but stamping feet ..hitting that is is way too much..





Never thought such problems will arrive so soon!!

Walking on 2 feet!!

Finally Akshaj has started walking...since it was so long due ..it was such happiness mixed with a about time it happened kind of feeling ...

Since he had started crawling pretty early he had become a pro at it ....so he never felt like walking...he would take 1-2 steps and then will again be in all fours ...

He was at such a stage instead of walker making him walk ,he was making the walker walk !!

But thankfully at last ...he is walking ..though he tries to walk so fast that he falls more than he walks but still he has no issues with it so we are just overjoyed ...

He has finally done 2 of the 'to do ' thing from his list he is walking and he has learnt to climb up and down the bed...

Now one the major problem I am facing is weaning him completely out of bottle ...when I am at home from morning till evening I make him drink with a spoon...but at night time I am still offering him bottle (though I do clean his teeth after it)..this way he sleeps peacefully(so do we) and gets up only in the morning(so no night time feeding)...

But I am just not finding the courage to make him stop using bottle completely...sometimes when he cries for milk in his sleep and just do not know how he can drink without bottle..sigh..

Also for the days I come to office things are not in my hands...so it is a mix of bottle and spoon he is getting ..

I have tried sipper but he just does not like to drink from it and again drinking from sipper is also not considered to be good so do not want to do it anyway!!

Well he has completed his milestones for now .. but mine are still long way to go !!

Munnar Trip

We all went to Munnar towards the start of September but somehow couldn't write about the trip...

Mettur Dam enroute Munnar

Enroute to Munnar we saw thousands of beautiful windmills....and even saw the wing of windmill in a truck....that was before the wind mill and I stupidly thought that it was the wing of airplane instead ....

Then came those famous tea estates..just one look at those lush green tea gardens for as far as we could look had us all energised and all set for the trip...

But sadly it was raining so heavily when we reached to Munnar and it was sooo cold that we were all thinking it was such a mistake come at this time ..just holed up in our cottage ..but by evening we decided as we have come better we do go out and enjoy all the same...

So off we went to Munnar town to get the necessary things for the trip---umbrellas ,sweater (for his papa) and raincoat for our star boy ...

Now we were all ready and enjoyed shopping in Munnar Town ..got hold of Munnar tea,dry fruits ,spices ....had spicy Munnar Tea....

But since the rain Gods were still above us ...and roaming around nearly impossible we decided its better that we pack our bags and leave as we were doubtful if Akshaj and his grandfather will be able to bear the cold..

So we packed our bags and started back and what do you see ..sun had come up ..though it was raining but nearly as bad ...so we went to boating ...

Akshaj totally went to a pensive mood in midst of so much greenery and water...

After surviving the famous stunts of Munnar streamer drivers ...our next stop was the breathtaking views of Munnar from the Top view ...but Akshaj enjoyed the adjoining branch present there instead...

And he was so truely happy to see the hens around the top spot...

And so with the promise of 'We will be back' left Munnar with some mesmerising memories..